Wright left infuriated by Wilson

Laurence Wilson was making his return from a one-game ban

Chester City manager Mark Wright was critical of Laurence Wilson for getting sent off in his nine-man side's 3-0 defeat at Port Vale on Tuesday night.

Wilson was sent off for serious foul play, to be followed a minute later by fellow defender Glenn Rule, who was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Wright told BBC Radio Merseyside: "The challenge by Laurence Wilson is a disgrace. He's cost us dearly.

"That boy has so much talent yet doesn't perform all the time."

Wilson will now serve a three-game suspension.

City, already trailing 1-0 to a Danny Glover goal before the two red cards, then shipped another a minute later through Rob Taylor, before James Lawrie added a late third.

But Wright was less scathing in his assessment of 19-year-old Rule, who will be suspended for two games, having been sent off once already this season.

"You can't have a go at young Rule," said Wright. "He's had a short pass from Anthony Barry, who should have stuck it behind and he knows that.

"The young boy has got to stay on his feet rather than think he can win everything."

Chester, still without a win in 2009, have now picked up just two points out of a possible 15 - and are now just 14 clear of 23rd-placed Bournemouth.

And, on top of Stephen Vaughan being ruled out for the season, there is a possibility that fellow defender Shaun Kelly may not play again this term.

Kelly suffered a knee ligament injury in the home draw with Luton Town on 13 January and was originally ruled out for six weeks. But Wright has since said that the club fear it could be worse.

Wright's men face play-off hopefuls Gillingham at the Deva Stadium on Saturday (1500 GMT), hoping for the first of the five wins the City boss has targeted to make them safe.